The Seated Buddha

[wasellajam]

Hi, Rob, welcome to the Pen. Some notes:

Otosan was a mean sod
beat me with a hanbo. These two lines are fun to say.
I poke his ghost-white ashes Ghost is a little blunt for this poem.
as if clearing a hearth. Poke and sweep together create an intrusive but gentle motion.
I pick up the femur.
The priest holds the urn out
like a bank robber
collecting the loot --
I fill it with ribs. These lines work well, demand implies reluctance.
The priest rests the urn
and with a hankachi
wipes his face. I slip
the Buddha bone
into my pocket --
Otosan will not have I'm undecided on this break.
a peaceful passage.
The jawbone, the last
of him, I hold up
to my face. Pivot it. Speaks well to holding on to bitter past. Bad Buddhist.
I borrow his voice
make him say sorry. Leaves room for possible resolution.









I poke his ghost-white ashes
as if clearing the hearth.
I pick up the femur.
The priest holds the urn out
like a bank robber
collecting the loot.
I fill it with ribs.
The priest rests the urn
and with a hankachi
wipes his face.
I slip the Buddha’s bone
into my pocket --
Otosan will not have
a peaceful passage.
The jawbone, the last
of him, I hold up
to my face. Pivot it.
I borrow his voice
make him say sorry.

I enjoyed the imagery, language, the overall effect. Thanks for the read, I hope you enjoy the site.